Flow control device



Oct. 29, 1940. v R. s. WiLLlS FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb.- 28, 1958P. 34 3 ,m%i W u z Emv o mllll H u p M 7 z w .3 3 wfl m w B y 2 y y y wz f .4 a 3 5 2 Patented Oct. 29, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5Claims.

The present invention relates to flow control devices and moreparticularly to devices capable of controlling the production ofvflowing oil wells.

It is customary torestrict the flow of oil and gas in wells, bythrottling the flow at or near the surface through a restricted passage,commonly known as a flow bean. This course is pursued to avoid danger ofthe liner and casing of the well being sand cut by too large and rapid aflow which might cause them to collapse, and also to maintain sufficientpressure on the structure to prevent loss of the well due to caving,collapsing, or shifting of the subterranean structure. The commonlyemployed flow bean is an effective instrumentality for controlling theproduction of a well, but it possesses the disadvantage of a relativelyshort life, which necessitates its frequent renewal. The necessarysubstitution usually requires material disassembly of parts before a newbean may be replaced.

It has heretofore been proposed to eliminate the need for disassemblingparts in order to render the flow bean accessible, by providing arectilinearly movable support carrying a plurality of flow beans whichcan be selectively positioned in the path of fluid flow for producingthe desired throttling action. However, this construction possesses thedisadvantage of permitting leakage of fluid between it and its guidesupport, and also an undesirable exposure of the unselected beans,whereby they may be subjected to injury. Moreover, the mode ofsupporting the beans is such as to provide a relatively yieldableconstruction, tending towards distortion and amplification of theleakage between the bean support and its guide. I

Under certain operating conditions, the effective throttling area of theflow bean is made variable by the use clan adjustable needle valvecooperating with the flow bean inlet. These valves are manuallycontrollable, their setting determining the pressure in the well and theflow through the bean. Such manual control might be effective underfairly steady operating conditions; but variations in factors within thewell might require a different valve setting to insure I a proper flow.The necessary adjustments, being dependent upon a human factor, mightnot be made at the proper time, thus introducing the possibility of adiminished or abnormally increased flow, which latter condition mightdecrease the well pressure sufllciently to cause its loss due to cavingin of the subterranean structure.

It therefore becomes an object of the present invention to provide aflow control device for oil wells and the like, which includes aplurality of throttling elements, each of which can be selectivelypositioned in the path of fluid flow; thev elements being protected byan enclosure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flow control device foroil wells and the like, which includes a plurality of throttlingelements, each of which can be selectively positioned in the path offluid flow, while the remaining elements are supported in a housingstructure in a manner permitting'their easy replaceability.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a flow controldevice including a plurality of throttling elements selectivelypositionable in the path of fluid flow, each element being rigidlysupported in a housing structure in a manner permitting ease of itsreplacement, and obviating the danger of damaging the parts'carrying andhousing the elements.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a flowcontrol device including a plurality of throttling elements selectivelypositionable in the path of fluid flow, the elements being entirelyenclosed by a leak proof housing structure.

A still further object of the invention contemplates a flow controldevice including a plurality of throttling elements selectivelypositionable in the path of fluid flow, the elements being carried by amovable member completely enclosed within a sealed housing, whicheliminated the necessity for a packing structure between the movablemember and its support.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objectswhich will be made more easily apparent from .a consideration of theembodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and forminga partof'the present speciflcation; I shall now proceed to describe theseforms in detail which illustrate the general principles of my invention;but it is to be understood that this description is not to be taken in alimiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by theappended claims.

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the invention applied to a flowcontrol mechanism of an oil well.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the throttlingstructure of the invention.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 33 ofFigure 2.

An illustration of'the utility of the invention is indicated in Figure1, wherein the oil production pipe l0 extends from the well casing (notshown), and has attached to it a Christmas tree II, which can beassembled in various forms to suit various conditions encountered in thefields. I

In Figure l, the flow through the pipe I0 is controlled by the mastervalve l2 connected thereto at one end, and at its other end to the crosspiece |3 by means of the fittings I 5. The vertical outlet of the crosspiece may have 'a. valve IG- secured thereto for controlling the flowthrough the tube I! which usually connects with a pressure gauge (notshown). The horizontal outlets of the cross piece I 3 are connected tocontrol valves |9 through the fittings 20. The improved flow controldevice (F) provided by the present invention, may be attached to theoutlets of either or both of the valves i9.

The flow control device includes a two part housing structure heldtogether by a plurality of bolts 2| (Figures 2 and 3). The upper housingsection 22 is provided with an outwardly extending nipple 23 carryingpipe threads for connection with the outlet end of either of the valvesIS. The lower housing section 24 is also provided with a threaded nipple25 adapted for connection with the pipe line 26 through the coupling 21.The fluid passing from the well and through the nipple 23 must flowthrough a bean 28 carried in a disc 29. The bean and disc are heldsecurely in proper position by opposed cooperating pressure sleeves 30and 3| and by the packings 30a and 3| (1 and packing rings 30b and 3|b.The lower sleeve 3| seats upon a shoulder 32 formed in the interior ofthe nipple 25, being of reduced diameter at its upper end to accommodatethe packing ring 3|b, which is engageable with the underside of the discand is adapted to expand the packing 3|a against the nipple 25 uponapplication of pressure between it and the disc. Similarly, the uppersleeve 30 is of reduced diameter at its lower end, which is encircled bythe packing ring 30b engageable with the upper side of the disc, and bypressure incident to such engagement, being adapted .to expand thepacking 30a into fluid tight engagement with the reduced end of thesleeve and upper housing 22. The upper end of the sleeve 30 is actedupon by a set screw 33 threadedly carried by a plug 34 threaded into anupper portion of the housing section. Adjustment of this set screw willcause the reduced end of the upper sleeve and the packing ring encircledthereby to press against the upper surfaces of the flow bean and disc.It will also produce a similar action between the underside of the discand the reduced end of the lower sleeve and the packing ring encircledthereby. In this manner, turning of the set screw can eflect a clampingof the bean and disc between the sleeves and packing rings. Conversely,retraction of the set screw will free the bean and disc, permittingtheir rotary movement I to any desired extent. The plug 34, will permitaccess to the upper sleeve 30 for its removal or replacement. Leakagepast the set screw 33 is prevented by the provision of the packing gland35. 2

Upon insertion of the upper sleeve 30 into the housing section 22,communication between the bore 36 in the sleeve 30 and the upper nipple23 is ensured by providing a plurality of generally radial slots 31 inthe nipple 23, one of which must align with the nipple passage 38. Thefluid can therefore flow from the upper nipple 23 through at least oneof the radial slots 31 and into the longitudinal bore 36 in the uppernipple from where it can be throttled in passing through the hole in theflow bean 23 and into the lower sleeve 3| and nipple 25 to the pipe line26.

In addition to performing their function of clamping disc 29 and flowbeen 23 securely in place, the sleeves 30 and 3| possess the property ofpreventing the erosion of housing parts caused by the action of abrasiveladen fluid, particularly upon increase in its velocity of flow due toexpansion through the bean. Instead of wearing away the housing parts,the abrasive action is upon the sleeves, which are renewable at aminimum of expense.

The necessity of disassembling the entire housing F to replace a flowbean is obviated by this invention. It is contemplated that the beans bereplaceable at will without material interference with the assembly. Toaccomplish this object, a plurality of flow beans 28 are inserted in thedisc 29 at spaced intervals therearound and substantially at the sameradius from the axis, about which the disc is adapted to be moved forpositioning a selected flow bean between the sleeves 30 and 3| and inthe path of fluid flow. The beans can each have the same bore to providethe same throttling capacities; or can have bores of different sizes toprovide various throttling effects that might become desirable withchanges in pressure of the fluid entering the housing.

The disc 29 is turnable by being coupled to an operating shaft 40 havinga squared portion 4| contained within a complementary portion in thedisc 29. One end of the shaft 40 is journaled in the lower housingportion 24, an additional bearing being provided by the bushing 42surrounding the shaft adjacent its squared portion 4| and held withinthe upper housing section 22. Leakage along the shaft 40 is prevented bya packing gland 43.

It will be noted that the housing sections 22 and 24 are provided withcomplementary cupped portions forming a cylindrical chamber 44 snuglyreceiving the disc 29. Leakage of fluid from the disc chamber 44 to thehousing exterior is prevented by the gasket 45 disposed between thehousing sections 22 and 24. Through this arrangement it is unnecessaryto provide packing between the movable disc and the housing to preventfluid leakage as in the prior art structures.

The flow beans 28 can be removed and replaced without interruption inthe flow of fluid through the device. This is accomplished by providinga pair of plugs 45 and 41 in aligned housing openings, which plugsnormally abut gaskets 48 and 49 engaging opposite sides of a flow beanwhich will be coaxial with the openings when another flow bean isproperly positioned between the sleeves 30 and 3| in the path of fluidflow. Thus, without interrupting such flow, a flow bean can be replacedby the expedient of removing the plugs "and 47, and by the use of asuitable tool, forcing it upwardly from the disc 29 and through theupper plug opening, Its snug engagement with the chamber walls willprevent the disc 29 from distorting under the pressure applied to thelower end of the bean. The rigidity associated with this mode of supportwill assist in the removal of the bean.

A different bean can then be inserted through the upper opening into thesocket from which the previous one was removed. All of the sockets aresimilar and include a shoulder 50 against which a cooperative shoulderedportion on the bean is adapted to abut to limit its movement through thedisc. The plugs and washers are replaced to completely enclose the disccontaining chamber.

Whenever it is desired to position a different bean in the flow path,the set screw 33 is loosened to relieve the clamping action of thesleeves 30 and 3| and the packing rings 30b, 3") upon the disc 29 and asuitable tool, such as a wrench,

is applied to the polygonal end 5| on the operattions of the flow beans.A simple expedient involves the formation of the upper end of the shaft40 so that the meeting edges of the wrench engaging surfaces pointtoward the axes of the various flow beans contained in the disc. Asuitable reference mark 52 can be place or formed on the upper section22 of the housing, which when aligned with any one of the aforementionedmeeting edges, will indicate that the corresponding bean is in properposition between the sleeves 30 and 3| in the path of fluid flow.

I claim:

1'. In a fluid flow control device of the type including a plate-havinga multiplicity of orifices and located within a housing, said orificesadapted to be selectively interposed in a fluid-flow passage, a sleevein said passage on the upstream side of said plate, sealing meansbetween said sleeve and the wall of said passage, one end of said sleeveadapted to contact and seal against the surface of the plate around aselected orifice, and means to hold said sleeve in contact with saidplate. a

2. In a fluid-flow control device of the type including a plate having amultiplicity of orifices and located within a housing, said orificesadapted to be selectively interposed in a fluid-flow passage, andsleeves in said passage on opposite sides of said plate, sealing meansbetween said sleeves and the wall of said passage, one end of each ofsaid sleeves adapted to contact and seal against a surface of the platearound a selected orifice, and means to hold said sleeve in contact withsaid plate.

3. In a fluid-flow control device of the type including aplate having amultiplicity of orifices and located within a housing, said orificesadapted to be selectively interposed in .a fluid flow passage, a sleevein said passage on the upstream side of said plate,"sealing meansbetween said sleeve and the wall of "said passage, one end of saidsleeve adapted to 3 contact and seal against the surface'of the platearound a selected orifice, means to hold said sleeve incontact with saidplate, said means comprising an adjustable element for holding saidsleeve in positive engagement with said plate, and the pressure in saidline acting to hold said sleeve in wiping engagement with said plateupon release of said positive means.

4. A flow control device comprising a housing having an inlet passageand an outlet passage disposed angularly with respect to said inletpassage, a plate enclosed within said housing, said platehaving aplurality of orifices, means for moving said plate for selectivelypositioning one of said orifices in line with said outlet passage, areplaceable sleeve contained in said outlet passage on the upstream side-of said plate and intercepting fluid flow from said inlet passage,sealing means between said sleeve and the wall of said passage, one endof said sleeve adapted to contact and seal against the surface of theplate around a selected orifice, said housing having an opening in linewith said outlet passage, removable closure means for said opening topermit access to said sleeve and its removal from the housing, saidclosure means having means to clamp said sleeve in sealing engagementwith said plate.

5. A fiow control device comprising a housing having an inlet passageand an outlet passage disposed angularly with respect to said inletpassage, a plate enclosed within said housing, said plate having aplurality of orifices, means for moving said plate for selectivelypositioning one of said orifices in line with said outlet passage, meansproviding a sealing surface on one side of said plate adapted to contactand seal against a surface of the plate around a selected orifice, areplaceable sleeve contained in said outlet passage on the other side ofsaid plate, sealing means between said sleeve andthe wall of said outletpassage, one end of said sleeve adapted to contact and seal against asurface of the plate around a selected orifice, said housing having anopening in line with said outlet passage, removable closure means forsaid opening to permit access to said sleeve and its removal from thehousing, and common means to hold said plate in contact with saidsurface and the end of said sleeve.

- ROBERT S. WILLIS.

